Written Answers Wednesday 9 March 2011

Scottish Executive

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, given the reported number of alcohol-related admissions, cirrhosis and deaths in the lowest two socioeconomic groups, what it has done to determine whether the individuals concerned have spent a lifetime in these groups or arrived in these groups as a result of excess alcohol consumption.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government does not hold any information relating to the socioeconomic history of those individuals who currently reside within the two lowest socioeconomic groups. To obtain this information would require longitudinal data that tracks individuals, their consumption and whether they have been admitted to hospital due to their alcohol use. There is currently no such data available in Scotland.

  We know that too many Scots across all socioeconomic groups are drinking too much, putting the health and well-being of themselves and their families at risk. That is why we are committed to providing preventative and specialist services for all those with alcohol problems, no matter what their socio-economic status.

  The Scottish Government recognises that there is no single measure which will help change Scotland’s relationship with alcohol. That is why we have placed a whole population approach at the heart of our Alcohol Framework - an approach that can make a genuine cultural and attitudinal shift in the way all socioeconomic groups view, and consume alcohol in Scotland. Policies targeted at the population as a whole can have a protective effect on vulnerable populations whilst also reducing alcohol misuse across the whole population.

  This is why the Scottish Government remains committed to minimum pricing, as we believe that it would be an effective, efficient, targeted and proportionate measure that would make a real impact on consumption and harm across society.

Alcohol

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to apply real (a) wages and (b) alcohol prices to the Sheffield Alcohol Pricing Model against outcome data for the period 2005-06 to 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: The updated Sheffield Alcohol Pricing Model for Scotland (published in April 2010) is based on actual 2008-09 price distribution data of off-trade alcohol in Scotland. Scottish survey consumption and off-sales price distribution data is not collated on an annual basis making it impossible to construct a robust time-series from 2005-06 to 2009-10. Survey consumption estimates are required to estimate the potential impact of any changes in price on health and other outcomes.

  The model does not extend to an analysis of the effect of price changes to real wages as the level of detail for wage data which would be required for the Sheffield model (at the individual level) is not available.

Ambulance Service

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency calls were made to the Scottish Ambulance Service between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held in the format requested. However, the Scottish Ambulance Service has advised that a total of 5,826 calls were received by their Emergency Medical Dispatch Centres between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011. This includes all 999 calls, as well as those from partners such as the police and other parts of the health service.

Ambulance Service

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many emergency calls to the Scottish Ambulance Service were made by (a) members of the public who had not contacted NHS24, (b) members of the public who had been advised to by NHS24, (c) NHS24 directly, (d) ambulances as a result of the time limit expiring on an urgent call and (e) the police between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011, broken down by NHS board area.

Nicola Sturgeon: The information is not held in the format requested.

  However, the Scottish Ambulance Service (SAS) has provided the information it holds on the numbers of emergency incidents attended, and the method of notification, between 00.01 on 31 December 2010 and 23.59 on 1 January 2011. This is set out in the following table:

  

NHS Board Area
Total Number of Emergency Incidents
Emergency Incidents where call was received via NHS 24
Urgent Incidents upgraded to emergency incidents due to patient condition deteriorating
Emergency Incidents where call was received via Police


Argyll and Clyde*
329
41
1
35


Ayrshire and Arran
304
32
0
28


Borders
76
10
0
6


Dumfries and Galloway
68
14
0
9


Fife
303
46
2
27


Forth Valley
210
41
0
13


Grampian
312
40
0
38


Greater Glasgow
666
77
3
50


Highland
161
30
2
21


Lanarkshire
460
63
0
40


Lothian
608
71
6
39


Shetland
5
1
0
1


Orkney
5
2
0
1


Tayside
277
31
1
26


Western Isles
15
5
0
0


N/A**
50
5
0
2


Total
3,849***
509
15
336



  Source: Scottish Ambulance Service.

  Notes:

  *SAS systems record data under the previous structure of 15 geographic health boards.

  **The alignment of any incident to a health board area is based on postcode and N/A is applied where the incident location postcode is not yet mapped to a health board area on the SAS Command and Control system.

  ***The total number of emergency incidents (3,849) includes incidents notified through methods not outlined separately in the table, such as 999 calls and calls from other healthcare professionals. These account for the balance of 2,989 incidents.

Burial and Cremation

Michael McMahon (Hamilton North and Bellshill) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is in respect of new disposal techniques for human remains such as resomation, cryomation and promession.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government remains open to new ideas and innovations. New and emerging technologies were included in a consultation that the Scottish Government ran in early 2010. The consultation was based on recommendations stemming from the independent report of the Burial and Cremation Review Group, whose remit was to look at existing death certification, burial and cremation practices in Scotland with a view to updating the law relating to burial, cremation and cemeteries, much of which dates back over 100 years.

  The Certification of Death (Scotland) Bill, introduced into the Scottish Parliament in October 2010, has been "future-proofed" to allow for new methods of disposal to be chosen in the future. There remains a requirement for any private company or crematorium facility to obtain approval that any new method of disposal meets the requirements of the law in general, including, for example, planning and environmental legislation.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what role it has played in the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative partnership aimed at promoting early diagnosis of cancer.

Shona Robison: The Chief Scientist Office (CSO), of the Scottish Government’s Health and Social Care Directorates, has responsibility for encouraging and supporting research into health and health care needs in Scotland. The CSO has contributed £240,000 towards the funds being made available through the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative for research in awareness and early diagnosis of cancer. This contribution ensures that researchers from Scottish universities are eligible to submit research proposals to this UK-wide initiative being led by Cancer Research UK.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to ensure that GPs have access to diagnostics to help confirm or rule out cancer since May 2007.

Nicola Sturgeon: Better Cancer Care: an Action Plan was published in 2008 and includes, as a component of the commitments outlined in the plan, targets relating to GP access to diagnostics.

  The Scottish Government Cancer Performance Support Team has been supporting NHS boards to achieve these targets and this support has included patient pathway management work to ensure rapid diagnosis and staging as part of the 62-day target.

  NHS boards make local decisions regarding arrangements to provide GPs with open access to diagnostic investigations such as imaging and endoscopy. These decisions also take account of local circumstances.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there has been participation from Scotland in the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative and, if so, how many of the (a) successful and (b) unsuccessful research funding applications received by September 2010 (i) were from Scotland or (ii) involved Scotland-based researchers as part of multisite applications.

Shona Robison: In response to research call one of the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative (NAEDI), seven applications were submitted from Scotland out of a total of 49 (14%). There were 10 successful applications, two of which were from Scotland (20%).

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it has taken or will take to match the National Awareness and Early Diagnosis Initiative/Department of Health £9 million funding to trusts in England to promote early diagnosis of breast, bowel and lung cancer.

Shona Robison: Scottish Government is aware of the work being undertaken by the Department of Health regarding cancer awareness and early diagnosis. The Scottish Cancer Taskforce, which oversees the commitments outlined in Better Cancer Care: an Action Plan,  is already undertaking some work to increase early awareness of signs and symptoms of all cancers amongst both members of the public and the medical community, for example, through the early referral guidelines for general practitioners.

  However, the Better Cancer Care Progress Report published online in December 2010 recognised that this is an area where further detailed work is required.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/health/cancer/progressreport.

  The Scottish Cancer Taskforce is currently updating its work plan and this is an area that will have a greater focus in the future.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what proportion of (a) breast, (b) bowel, (c) lung, (d) prostate and (e) ovarian cancer cases presented as an emergency in the last two years for which information is available.

Nicola Sturgeon: In the following table the total number of admissions for breast, bowel, lung (trachea, bronchus and lung), prostate and ovarian cancer are outlined and the proportion of these which were admitted as an emergency for the financial years ending 31 March 2009 and 2010.

  

 
2008-09
2009-10


Type of Cancer
All Admissions
Proportion Admitted as an Emergency
All Admissions
Proportion Admitted as an Emergency


Breast
26,367
3.9%
26,429
4.0%


Bowel
15,739
13.7%
14,569
13.9%


Lung
15,344
25.8%
14,359
26.7%


Prostate
4,645
19.2%
5,159
18.9%


Ovarian
6,477
10.4%
5,555
11.1%



  Source: ISD SMR01.

  Notes:

  1. The proportion given is the number of hospital admissions that began with an emergency episode as a percentage of the total number of admissions.

  2. The same patient may be counted more than once within each year if they have more than one stay within a main diagnosis of any of the specified cancer within that year.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) about complaints in relation to cancer diagnosis in each of the last two years.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) provides an independent and impartial service for handling complaints about public services in Scotland and no direct discussions have been held about specific complaints. Where the SPSO upholds a complaint, the complaints reviewer will issue a decision letter and follow up with the organisation to make sure that any recommendations made are carried out.

  NHS boards are expected to implement the recommendations made in the ombudsman’s monthly reports and to take all necessary steps to ensure that similar circumstances do not recur.

  The ombudsman’s reports and boards’ responses are considered by the Scottish Government to ensure that all necessary action and learning takes place at local and national level.

  The Scottish Government fully recognises the importance of good quality care for patients in all clinical settings. Ensuring the quality of care for individual patients is the responsibility of NHS boards. There are a number of national initiatives to support NHS boards to improve the quality of care patients receive.

Cancer

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when digital mammography screening will be available in each NHS board area.

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to ensure that all NHS boards will be ready to implement digital mammography screening.

Shona Robison: A full national review of the Scottish Breast Screening Service will commence from April 2011 and is expected to take around 12 months to complete.

  The review will consider how the Breast Screening Service in Scotland is delivered in the future, including the delivery of digital mammography.

  The Scottish Government will work closely with NHS boards over the coming year to ensure that they are adequately prepared to implement the recommendations of the review.

Cancer

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage rate in the uptake of women aged 20 to 24 attending cervical screening has been in NHS Highland in each of the last four years for which information is available and how these figures compare with the overall average of all age groups attending.

Shona Robison: The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 3.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  NHS Highland, 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2010

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
56.7
51.7
58.3
58.1


25-29
74.8
62.7
68.9
70.6


30-34
82.4
67.6
73.5
75.6


35-39
85.7
72.1
78.0
79.3


40-44
86.8
76.0
80.4
81.4


45-49
87.8
78.3
81.8
82.1


50-54
85.9
78.0
80.2
80.6


55-59
83.8
76.4
77.5
77.4


60-64
62.1
69.5
66.1
57.3


20-60
81.7
71.4
75.8
76.5


Total (All Ages)
46.9
70.8
74.4
74.0



  The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 5.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
57.3
54.6
59.5
59.6


25-29
79.6
72.8
75.3
76.3


30-34
87.5
76.9
79.7
81.9


35-39
90.7
81.6
84.4
86.0


40-44
91.7
84.6
86.8
87.5


45-49
93.2
86.4
87.8
88.3


50-54
91.0
85.6
86.5
87.1


55-59
88.6
83.5
83.9
84.2


60-64
81.1
79.4
79.9
78.4


20-60
86.3
79.5
81.6
82.4


Total (All Ages)
51.3
79.0
80.8
81.3



  Source: ISD (D) 4 Legacy application for 2006-07 data.

  Source: ISD (D) 4 Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System (SCCRS) for 2007-08 data onwards.

  Ref: IR2011-00573.

  Notes:

  *Important: These data are based on the pre-2006 health board configuration (former Argyll and Clyde). Figures for NHS Highland do not include the Argyll and Bute area.

  1. Based on adjusted Community Health Index (CHI) population denominator: 20 to 60 years (excluding medically ineligible women) for 2006-07. Based on SCCRS population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  Cervical Screening year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Cancer

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage rate in the uptake of women aged 20 to 24 attending cervical screening has been in NHS Orkney in each of the last four years for which information is available and how these figures compare with the overall average of all age groups attending.

Shona Robison: The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 3.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  NHS Orkney, 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2010

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
60.5
53.8
59.9
61.5


25-29
80.6
69.3
72.0
74.3


30-34
84.8
72.0
77.5
76.2


35-39
83.5
76.1
82.8
82.4


40-44
86.0
79.1
82.6
83.3


45-49
90.0
80.9
83.7
84.2


50-54
87.3
82.0
82.5
81.8


55-59
83.8
81.0
81.4
81.9


60-64
63.7
74.6
72.7
60.7


20-60
83.4
75.7
79.0
79.3


Total (All Ages)
46.9
75.3
78.1
77.3



  The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 5.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-08
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
60.8
57.5
61.5
63.0


25-29
86.0
79.5
80.1
77.5


30-34
89.9
81.3
82.6
82.0


35-39
89.2
84.3
86.8
86.3


40-44
90.7
85.8
86.5
87.2


45-49
93.3
87.0
88.7
88.4


50-54
92.6
88.1
86.7
86.6


55-59
89.8
86.6
86.4
86.2


60-64
80.6
83.3
84.3
81.7


20-60
88.0
82.6
83.6
83.4


Total (All Ages)
51.1
82.4
83.3
82.9



  Source: ISD(D)4 Legacy application for 2006-07 data.

  Source: ISD(D)4 Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System (SCCRS) for 2007-08 data onwards.

  Ref: IR2011-00573.

  Notes:

  1. Based on adjusted Community Health Index (CHI) population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for 2006-07. Based on SCCRS population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  Cervical Screening year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Cancer

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage rate in the uptake of women aged 20 to 24 attending cervical screening has been in NHS Shetland in each of the last four years for which information is available and how these figures compare with the overall average of all age groups attending.

Shona Robison: The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 3.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  NHS Shetland, 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2010

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
64.9
60.6
64.2
65.3


25-29
80.1
69.9
77.4
75.0


30-34
87.0
73.4
80.7
81.3


35-39
87.0
78.4
83.8
83.6


40-44
90.9
84.2
85.2
84.9


45-49
89.1
83.3
85.1
86.9


50-54
91.4
82.1
84.6
84.7


55-59
88.4
83.7
82.2
80.1


60-64
72.9
74.6
72.3
62.4


20-60
85.8
77.9
81.4
81.0


Total (All Ages)
49.6
77.4
80.2
78.8



  The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 5.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
65.8
63.0
65.2
65.9


25-29
84.8
78.1
82.1
80.0


30-34
90.5
82.1
84.6
84.6


35-39
91.0
87.7
87.8
87.6


40-44
95.0
90.8
89.2
89.6


45-49
92.2
90.4
91.0
91.8


50-54
96.4
90.4
90.4
89.7


55-59
92.5
90.5
87.8
87.0


60-64
85.0
84.6
85.4
82.7


20-60
89.6
85.3
85.9
85.4


Total (All Ages)
53.3
84.9
85.2
84.5



  Source: ISD(D)4 Legacy application for 2006-07 data.

  Source: ISD(D)4 Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System (SCCRS) for 2007-08 data onwards.

  Ref: IR2011-00573.

  Notes:

  1. Based on adjusted Community Health Index (CHI) population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for 2006-07. Based on SCCRS population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  Cervical Screening year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Cancer

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the percentage rate in the uptake of women aged 20 to 24 attending cervical screening has been in NHS Western Isles in each of the last four years for which information is available and how these figures compare with the overall average of all age groups attending.

Shona Robison: The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 3.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  NHS Western Isles, 1 January 2006 to 31 March 2010

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
54.3
46.3
54.5
55.8


25-29
75.2
65.1
69.5
69.5


30-34
81.0
65.7
72.0
71.8


35-39
84.7
71.9
76.3
77.4


40-44
85.5
75.3
77.8
80.6


45-49
83.9
78.1
80.6
80.5


50-54
81.2
76.2
74.9
75.5


55-59
79.6
74.4
75.8
77.4


60-64
61.5
56.2
54.1
50.7


20-60
79.8
70.8
74.0
74.7


Total (All Ages)
43.1
65.8
67.8
68.1



  The percentage uptake¹ of females who had a record of a previous screening test taken within the last 5.5 years, by five year age group is in the following table.

  

Age Group
2006-07
2007-8
2008-09
2009-10


% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake
% Uptake


20-24
54.9
49.8
57.2
56.4


25-29
79.6
78.1
79.1
76.8


30-34
86.2
76.5
78.9
81.3


35-39
88.2
81.1
82.3
84.0


40-44
89.8
84.3
85.3
86.3


45-49
89.8
87.7
88.4
86.8


50-54
88.2
87.3
85.4
85.7


55-59
86.4
83.9
84.6
83.9


60-64
78.1
80.3
78.4
77.7


20-60
84.7
80.3
81.6
81.5


Total (All Ages)
47.1
76.6
77.4
77.3



  Source: ISD(D)4 Legacy application for 2006-07 data.

  Source: ISD(D)4 Scottish Cervical Call-Recall System (SCCRS) for 2007-08 data onwards.

  Ref: IR2011-00573.

  Notes:

  1. Based on adjusted Community Health Index (CHI) population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for 2006-07. Based on SCCRS population denominator (excluding medically ineligible women) for years 2007-08 to 2009-10.

  Cervical Screening year runs from 1 April to 31 March.

Central Heating

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much was spent on the Central Heating Programme in each year since the programme was introduced.

Alex Neil: The total spend on the Central Heating Programme in the public and private sector since it was introduced is shown in the following table.

  

Year
Total Spend (£ Million)



2001-02
20.11


2002-03
29.50


2003-04
46.39


2004-05
50.16


2005-06
56.99


2006-07
45.87


2007-08
48.96


2008-09
51.21

Central Heating

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how many contracts were awarded to Scottish companies under the Central Heating Programme.

Alex Neil: This information is not held. Companies contracted to the Central Heating Programme managing agent were appointed by competition arranged by the managing agent and in accordance with EU Public Procurement Regulations.

Central Heating

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what guidance it gave on awarding contracts under the Central Heating Programme.

Alex Neil: Within the contract awarded to the Central Heating Programme managing agent, the managing agent was required to contract with suppliers and contractors through a competition process and subsequently in accordance with EU Public Procurement Regulations. The managing agent was responsible for the evaluation of tenders received from suppliers. The evaluation process was aimed at identifying the most economically advantageous tenders with particular emphasis on achieving the best combination of quality and price.

Central Heating

Nanette Milne (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the cost of awarding contracts to non-Scotland based companies under the Central Heating Programme.

Alex Neil: The Central Heating Programme managing agent was responsible for any contracts it awarded. Companies contracted to the managing agent were appointed by competition and in accordance with EU Public Procurement Regulations.

  The managing agent was required to appoint sufficient installers to provide capacity and area coverage required to meet programme targets and maintain competition.

Children and Young People

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive that its position is on whether parents and young people can expect to receive legal representation as a result of calling the Scottish Child Law Centre.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Child Law Centre supports children and families in Scotland through the provision of free, expert legal advice. Children and young people can seek advice through the centre’s free-phone line, email and text services. In 2010-11, the Scottish Government provided funding totalling more than £95,000 through the Unified Voluntary Sector Fund to support the centre’s work.

  We are also providing the centre with funding to support the delivery of "Take Note" – the national advocacy service for children and young people who may need support, including representation, when they are appealing to the Additional Support Needs Tribunal for Scotland. Where appropriate, this support can include the provision of legal advocacy.

Children and Young People

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what percentage of children it estimates to be rated as reaching a good level of development at age five, also broken down by (a) NHS board and (b) local authority area.

Adam Ingram: There is no single definition of what constitutes "good development at age five" and several possible measures may be used as indicators. This information is not therefore held centrally. Local delivery agencies may choose to collect a range of information to report on "good development" in their single outcome agreements.

Children and Young People

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many Sure Start centres there were in (a) May 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and have been in 2011.

Adam Ingram: The Scottish Government does not hold records of the number of Sure Start centres in Scotland and no longer promotes the Sure Start programme in Scotland as a self-standing programme.

Climate Change

Sarah Boyack (Edinburgh Central) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it plans to publish the report setting out what measures it will take to reduce emissions from living accommodation, as set out under section 64(6) of the Climate Change Act 2009.

Alex Neil: Section 64 (6) (a) of the Climate Change (Scotland) Act 2009 requires Scottish ministers to publish a report setting out the measures that they intend to take to reduce emissions from living accommodation. This requirement has already been fulfilled by the publication in October 2010 of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan and in November 2010 of the draft Report on Proposals and Policies. Both reports include information on current and planned policies to reduce emissions from living accommodation and to improve the energy efficiency of our homes and communities.

  Section 64 (6) (b) of this act requires Scottish ministers to set out when they intend to make provision in respect of certain aspects of the use of regulation making powers under section 64, within 12 months of their commencement. This report will be published by the end of March 2011.

Dentistry

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position in on NHS dental patients having appointments cancelled in order for a dental practice to reduce its waiting list for private treatment.

Shona Robison: It is regrettable if some NHS patients are having appointments cancelled to facilitate private dental provision, although we have no current evidence to suggest that this is occurring.

  Access to NHS general dental services is improving with an additional 1.15 million patients being registered in the period from 31 March 2007 to 31 December 2010.

Drug Misuse

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive on what date it will publish Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2007/2008 and 2008/09 .

Kenny MacAskill: The statistical bulletin Drug Seizures by Scottish Police Forces, 2007/2008 and 2008/09 , is due to be published by the Scottish Government in September 2011, and will be available at http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Browse/Crime-Justice/DrugSeizures .

  The dates of all Scottish Government Official and National Statistics publications are pre-announced, and the up to date list of future publications can be found at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/Search/Forthcoming.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37941 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, whether it is aware of communications from Barnardo’s to ISEA Scotland stating that it is "firmly of the belief that the provision of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) do not apply to the award of the new contract".

Adam Ingram: It is not for ministers to comment on correspondence between third parties.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37941 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, where the provision of Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006 (TUPE) apply, what the implications on the award of grant made by it are.

Adam Ingram: The issue of whether the transfer of undertakings (protection of employment) regulations (TUPE) applies is a matter of law to be determined by the relevant parties or failing that by an Employment Tribunal. Such issues do not form part of our consideration of awards of grants, nor is it for ministers to speculate on the implications of such issues, nor comment on them, in relation to any specific case.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37945 by Adam Ingram on 14 December 2010, which officials attended the meeting on 21 October 2010 and what the key actions were.

Adam Ingram: The new Additional Support Needs National Advocacy Service will be delivered by a partnership between Barnardo’s and the Scottish Child Law Centre.

  Barnardo’s, which submitted the application on behalf of the partners, was informed that the application had been successful on 15 October 2010. A short introductory meeting was held with Barnardo’s and the Scottish Child Law Centre on 21 October 2010 to provide feedback on the application, meet key individuals who would be involved in delivering the service and discuss key actions in disseminating information. The Scottish Government was represented by Rachel Sunderland.

  Meeting participants recognised that whilst it was important to move quickly in establishing the new service it was essential that information remained confidential until all applicants had been informed of the outcome. A timetable for disseminating information was therefore provisionally agreed and key contacts identified in the event of further queries. Discussion also focused on the importance of ensuring minimal disruption in the service provided to parents and young people during the transition to the new national advocacy service. It was agreed that early meetings between Barnardo’s, the Scottish Child Law Centre and organisations currently providing advocacy would be helpful.

Education

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-37308 by Adam Ingram on 5 November 2010, whether the £100,000 funding made available is new funding.

Adam Ingram: No, the £100,000 funding is provided from existing funding streams.

Energy Efficiency

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide funding to the Energy Saving Trust in 2011-12.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government will provide funding to the Energy Saving Trust in 2011-12 to support the delivery of the Energy Efficiency Action Plan. Budgets have yet to be confirmed.

Energy Efficiency

Bill Butler (Glasgow Anniesland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding it provided to the Energy Saving Trust in 2010-11.

Jim Mather: The Scottish Government has allocated a total of £28.1 million to the Energy Saving Trust for financial year 2010-11. Actual spend may differ from this due to in-year variances.

  This funding covered services delivered on behalf of the Transport, Housing and Regeneration, Fuel Poverty and Energy and Climate Change policy areas of Scottish Government.

Enterprise

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what public funding has been provided to the Intellectual Assets Centre to run Project VIA Food and Drink; whether further funding is to be provided, and, if not, what the reasons are.

Jim Mather: The amount of public funding that has been provided to the Intellectual Assets Centre to run Project VIA Food and Drink and whether further funding will be provided for this activity is an operational matter for Scottish Enterprise in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise. I have asked the Chief Executive of Highlands and Islands Enterprise to provide you with a response to your question.

European Funding

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first made aware that over €40 million of European regional development funding for 2010-11 was at risk of being withheld from Scotland.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first made aware that over €40 million of European regional development funding for 2010-11 had been officially suspended.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when it was first made aware that the European Commission had concerns over the allocation of regional development funding in Scotland.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with the European Commission regarding the allocation of regional development funding and when they took place.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive for what reasons the European Commission has decided to withhold over €40 million of regional development funding for 2010-11 from Scotland.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what discussions it has had with the European Commission since the suspension of over €40 million of regional development funding for 2010-11.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to resolve the reported significant shortcomings indentified by the European Commission in the way that regional development funding is allocated in Scotland.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what direction the European Commission has provided on the action that it requires the Scottish Government to take in order to release the €40 million of regional development funding that is being withheld and what action it has taken as a result.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the impact on Scottish projects of the decision by the European Commission to suspend over €40 million of regional development funding for 2010-11.

Jeremy Purvis (Tweeddale, Ettrick and Lauderdale) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive when the over €40 million of regional development funding suspended by the European Commission will be released.

Jim Mather: For the 2007-13 period, European Structural Funds in Scotland comprise four programmes: the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) in each of the Highlands and Islands and in Lowlands and Uplands programming areas.

  The programmes have been "interrupted" not "suspended". An "interruption" is a temporary arrangement, whereas a "suspension" is of a more permanent nature.

  Individual projects are not affected by the suspension of payments to the Scottish Government by the European Commission. The interruption refers to the reimbursement of Structural Funds payments by the Commission to the Scottish Government. The Scottish Government will continue to meet all eligible claims by projects.

  The ERDF programmes were officially interrupted by the European Commission on 22 December 2010 and this was the point at which the Scottish Government was formally made aware that funds were going to be temporarily withheld.

  The ESF programmes were officially interrupted by the European Commission on 15 February 2011; again, this was the point at which the Scottish Government was formally made aware that funds were going to be temporarily withheld.

  The European Commission imposed the interruptions as, in its view, the Scottish Government had not carried out sufficient management and control checks prior to its payment declaration in December 2009.

  The European Commission has confirmed that the interruptions will be lifted when the Scottish Government provides sufficient evidence that an increased level of management and control checks have been undertaken.

  The interruption process, whilst temporary in nature, takes time to resolve. To ensure that this is progressed, the Scottish Government provided the European Commission with additional evidence on the 17 February 2011 and again on 23 February 2011.

  We intend that a complete response to the interruptions will be sent to the Commission by Easter. Subject to the Commission’s timetable, it is anticipated that the interruptions will be lifted by the summer.

Football

Ian McKee (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding (a) it and (b) its agencies have given to the Scottish Football Association and other football governing bodies in each of the last 10 years for which information is available and on what contractual basis.

Shona Robison: In the three years from 2008-09, the Scottish Football Association was awarded £2.535 million direct from the Scottish Government to deliver a wide range of football opportunities as part of the Cashback for Communities programme. A further £2 million has been provided from the Cashback for Communities programme to sportscotland to help support the delivery of quality facilities in communities across Scotland.

  The Scottish Football Association has received significant funding from sportscotland in each of the last ten years to support the implementation of the sport’s development plan. The level of investment is an operational matter and I have asked the chief executive of sportscotland, Stewart Harris, to provide the detailed information requested.

Health

Helen Eadie (Dunfermline East) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many staff from (a) its directorate general for health, (b) NHS agencies and (c) each NHS board have been on work-related trips abroad in the last three years and to what countries.

Nicola Sturgeon: Sixty-seven members of staff from the Directorate-General for Health have been on work-related trips abroad between 2008 and 2010. They visited a number of countries in Europe as well as the United States of America, Canada, New Zealand and India.

  The information on NHS agencies and NHS boards is not centrally held.

Health

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the next steps are for implementing the recommendations in the Cross Party Group on Muscular Dystrophy’s The Mackie Report following the meeting between the Scottish Executive and the Scottish Muscle Network on 8 February 2011.

Nicola Sturgeon: We intend to issue a statement in the very near future on implementing the recommendations in the Scottish Muscle Network’s review of neuromuscular services and in the Mackie Report.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what information it has on whether the pilot audit of inpatient falls by the clinical effectiveness and evaluation unit of the Royal College of Physicians will include a review of records from Scottish hospitals.

Nicola Sturgeon: The Clinical Effectiveness and Evaluation unit (CEEu) of the Royal College of Physicians was commissioned by the Healthcare Quality Improvement Partnership to perform a National Falls and Bone Health in Older People three year programme of work. This is a Department of Health, England-led initiative and therefore Scotland will not be involved in this work.

  In Scotland, as part of the implementation of the Rehabilitation Framework, we are developing a National Falls Programme with the aim of significant service re-design to improve the delivery of falls services.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has taken steps, comparable to the Australian Government’s Better Access Initiative or the UK Government’s Improving Access to Psychological Therapies Programme, to improve access to talking therapies beyond the NHS24 telephone psychological treatment pilot.

Shona Robison: We have introduced a HEAT target to improve access to mental health services by delivering 18 week referral to treatment for psychological therapies from December 2014.

  We have undertaken two CBT pilots: NHS Living Life and Widening Access to Self Help (WISH). We are currently considering whether and how the pilots could be delivered more widely.

  We have also established a sub group of the psychological therapies group to consider alternative mechanisms for the delivery of psychological therapies. The group will consider how to meet the needs of people who are not able or choose not to access therapies through traditional routes.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what implementation plans it has to meet the HEAT target on talking therapies.

Shona Robison: Along with colleagues from the Mental Health Collaborative, Information Services Division (ISD) and NHS Education Scotland (NES), we have recently met each NHS board to discuss how they intend to design and implement services and information systems to deliver the target.

  We have been working closely with NHS Education for Scotland and NHS boards to develop a range of initiatives to support the development of the workforce around our commitment to expand and increase access to psychological therapies to meet people’s needs better and sooner.

  We have also produced and will shortly be publishing an updated version of the Matrix, a tool for NHS boards to use in reviewing available evidence and in considering which psychological interventions might best be used to meet local need and demand.

  The Mental Health Collaborative is supporting boards design their systems including publishing a series of introductory guides for clinicians and service managers to support them to design and manage the delivery of psychological therapies.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) professors of and (b) senior lecturer posts in neurosurgery there are and how this compares with 1999.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information is not held centrally.

  I refer the member to the answer to question S3W-36289 on 27 September 2010. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness among GPs of the signs and symptoms of lupus.

Nicola Sturgeon: Immunological conditions such as lupus are covered in the trainee GP curriculum and are assessed as part of the GP e-portfolio, a training resource overseen by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP).

  Existing GPs are contractually committed to an annual educational appraisal and to developing their own learning needs. If a GP has recognised lupus as a learning need, this should form part of their Personal Education Plan.

  The Strathclyde Lupus Group has been awarded a grant of £17,969 from the Self Management Fund, administered on our behalf by the Long Term Conditions Alliance Scotland, to deliver a series of lupus awareness workshops aimed at student doctors at the University of Glasgow Medical School. The workshops will give people living with lupus the opportunity to inform the next generation of doctors about managing the condition effectively.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it is taking to raise awareness among ethnic groups of the signs and symptoms of Lupus.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are committed to improving the quality and accessibility of information that is available to people and their carers throughout their care journey, both to raise awareness of individual conditions, and to support their effective diagnosis and management. We recognise the importance of this approach in relation to lupus, given its higher prevalence in women from minority ethnic backgrounds.

  NHS Inform is our nationally co-ordinated approach to the provision of health and health service information. It is intended as a first point of contact for trusted quality assured health information for the public, patients and carers in Scotland.

  NHS Inform provides information on the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of lupus which can be accessed at http://www.nhsinform.co.uk/health-library/articles/l/lupus/introduction.aspx.

  Consumer Focus Scotland has produced a DVD which provides information in a variety of languages on how to access the health service. This is also available via www.nhsinform.com.

  The Scottish Government Equalities and Planning Directorate is leading on the development of a national Translation, Interpreting and Communications Support Strategy, in partnership with NHS boards, to improve the provision of accessible information and communication support services for speakers of different languages, people with literacy problems and people with other communication difficulties.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what its position is on setting up a managed clinical network for lupus.

Nicola Sturgeon: We are always willing to consider proposals for providing pump-priming funding for Managed Clinical Networks.

  Effective management of lupus relies on the expertise of many specialists, including rheumatologists, nephrologists, dermatologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, respiratory physicians and cardiologists, and their respective supporting investigative and administrative teams. Clinicians from across Scotland have therefore formed the Scottish Lupus Exchange (SLEx). It brings together the clinicians in the various disciplines to ensure that, through working collaboratively, people living with lupus receive the care and support they need as close to home as possible. The SLEx could well form the core of a lupus Managed Clinical Network, with suitable third sector representation.

  We have provided pump priming funding to support the development of a rheumatology Managed Clinical Network in NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde. While its initial focus will be on Rheumatoid Arthritis, we expect that, over time, its work will extend to other conditions, including lupus.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what changes it has made to the approach to child heath development since the publication of Fair Society, Health Lives: The Marmot Review in February 2010.

Shona Robison: The Marmot report was based on a review for the Department of Health on health inequalities in England but the Scottish Government is also committed to giving children in Scotland the best possible start in life and has identified, and is already tackling in Scotland, many of the issues raised in the Marmot Review.

  The Early Years Framework was published in December 2008, in recognition of the key importance of the early years of life in determining life chances and outcomes, including health outcomes. Along with Equally Well and Achieving our Potential, it forms part of a coherent approach to addressing disadvantage and breaking the intergenerational cycles of inequalities.

  The Early Years Framework highlights the importance of all national and local agencies, the third sector and independent sector working together to deliver improved outcomes for our children.

  In June 2010, we published the review of Equally Well, the report of the Scottish Task Force on Health Inequalities. This review reported on the implementation of Equally Well, the Early Years Framework and Achieving our Potential - the government’s framework for tackling poverty. In relation to child health development the review recommended that an early years pathfinder approach should be established to promote the integration of front-line services, taking a whole-systems approach to implement rapid change in a community planning partnership area. The review also stressed the importance of NHS boards ensuring the provision of healthcare and health improvement services to looked after children and agreed to endorse the Looked After Children and Young People Strategic Implementation group programme of work to build greater cooperation between partners and a shared sense of responsibility for the outcomes of looked after children. In addition, the review agreed on the importance of developing the focus on health and wellbeing in the Curriculum for Excellence, and also noted the importance of literacy and numeracy skills in increasing young people’s long-term prospects.

  Within the measurement framework for the Healthcare Quality Strategy, a set of high-level outcome indicators is being developed to provide evidence of progress towards the three over-arching Quality Ambitions. Work is underway to include in this set an indicator relating to Early Years.

  In January this year we launched A New Look at Hall 4 - The Early Years – Good Health for Every Child which recommends that: all children should have a Named Person; all children should have a Health Plan Indicator – Core or Additional – by the age of six months; a 24-30 month review should be carried out for all children; and health improvement materials should be promoted to provide parents/carers with appropriate and tailored information.

  We also launched a refreshed Framework for Maternity Care together with outcome focused evidence into action guidance for NHS boards in January this year. These are in line with the recommendation in the Marmot review that universal services should be appropriate and proportionate so as to address the social gradient nature of antenatal health inequalities and the emphasis on the importance of improving access to healthcare amongst those groups who most need it but often benefit least from it.

  At the same time, the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Framework was also launched which has an emphasis on maternal nutrition for the first time and the importance of good nutrition in providing the best start in life.

Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many healthy living centres there were in (a) May 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and have been in 2011.

Shona Robison: At the outset of the Healthy Living Centre programme there were 46 Healthy Living Centres.

  Prior to 2007, a total of six Healthy living Centres closed across Scotland for various reasons.

  At January 2008, there were 37 Healthy Living Centres, as a further three had re-modeled in 2007-08 due to local priorities.

  From January 2008 to date, a further nine Healthy Living Centres have closed due to local funding decisions, and four Healthy Living Centres have been re-modeled or mainstreamed.

  In the period 2008-10, the Scottish Government provided in excess of £3 million in transitional funding to assist Healthy Living Centres move to a sustainable financial position, following the cessation of the five-year Big Lottery Fund programme.

Health

Rhona Brankin (Midlothian) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive under what circumstances pregnant women resident in Midlothian are expected to travel to Lanarkshire to give birth.

Shona Robison: The Scottish Government is committed to ensuring that all women and their babies are cared for using safe, clinically effective, evidence based models of care, before, during and after pregnancy.

  The only circumstances in Lothian where a woman would be transferred to give birth in Lanarkshire would be as an in-utero transfer where due to prematurity and threatened premature labour, a neonatal intensive care cot would be required and if all the neonatal intensive care cots in Lothian were full.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many hospital admissions there were due to assault by a sharp object in 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: There were a total of 1,446 admissions (emergency and elective) to acute hospitals in Scotland due to assault by sharp object in the year ending 31 March 2010. This data has been revised since provisional figures were used to answer S3W-35111 on 3 August 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many acute occupied bed days there were due to assault by a sharp object in 2009-10.

Nicola Sturgeon: There were a total of 2,949 occupied bed days in acute hospitals in Scotland due to assault by a sharp object, for patients discharged in the year ending 31 March 2010. This data has been revised since provisional figures were used to answer S3W-35111 on 3 August 2010.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at:

  http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/Apps2/Business/PQA/Default.aspx.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the financial cost to society of knife crime since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Government officials are carrying out ongoing work examining the economic and social costs of crime in Scotland, however precise cost estimates specifically for knife crime are currently not available at either the "per offence" or cumulative level.

  We have put record levels of investment into the national Violence Reduction Unit, record investment into gang violence and record investment in diversionary activities. We announced on Friday 25 February 2011 a doubling of the funding for No Knives, Better Lives for 2011-12.

Justice

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what assessment it has made of the financial cost to the police of knife crime since May 2007.

Kenny MacAskill: Scottish Government officials are carrying out ongoing work examining the economic and social costs of crime in Scotland, however precise cost estimates specifically for knife crime are currently not available at either the "per offence" or cumulative level.

  We have put record levels of investment into the national Violence Reduction Unit, record investment into gang violence and record investment in diversionary activities. We announced on Friday 25 February 2011 a doubling of the funding for No Knives, Better Lives for 2011-12.

Justice

Jamie Hepburn (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what appeal process there is for people convicted of a driving offence who have had their driving licence revoked.

Kenny MacAskill: The Scottish Government has no functions in relation to the appeal process for people convicted of a driving offence who have had their driving licence revoked.

  Transport is a reserved function of the UK Government and as such the Secretary of State for Transport has the responsibility for the appeals process for people convicted of a driving offence who have had their driving licence revoked.

Mental Health

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what level of qualified mental health nursing staff it expects to be employed in nursing homes offering care for patients with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease.

Shona Robison: There are no specific requirements on the level of qualified mental health nursing staff in nursing homes caring for patients with dementia.

  The Care Commission expects as a matter of best practice at least one registered mental health nurse on each shift in a dementia-specific nursing home or unit. We fund a number of nursing posts in nursing and care homes across Scotland to facilitate education for other healthcare staff including student nurses, and we are providing funding to Alzheimer Scotland to expand their number of specialist dementia nurses, whose responsibilities include helping to manage preadmission and discharge to and from nursing homes.

  As part of The National Dementia Strategy, NHS Education Scotland and The Scottish Social Services Council are developing a skills and knowledge framework for dementia for all health and social care staff. We expect the framework to be published this summer, and it will be implemented thereafter.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether the accident and emergency recording system has the capability to identify patients who repeatedly contact the service to seek psychiatric advice.

Shona Robison: The accident and emergency information systems can identify patients who repeatedly attend with mental health problems.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it takes to identify patients repeatedly contacting accident and emergency departments to seek psychiatric advice, in order to offer them alternative community-based strategies.

Shona Robison: NHS boards identify, via an alert on their accident and emergency (A&E) information systems, patients who are frequent attenders (this includes mental health presentations). They may then undertake one or more of the following steps:

  request a psychiatric assessment to be undertaken by the mental health team while the patient is in the department – this could be undertaken by the liaison service, crisis service or community mental health team. The mental health service would then arrange follow-up as appropriate.

  advise the patient of alternative places where they can access support if they feel it is not clinically appropriate for the patient to be in A&E.

  After each attendance at A&E a letter is sent to the patients’ GP advising that their patient attended on a specific date, why they attended, and what treatment/referrals were made.

Mental Health

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it has issued guidance to employers as part of its veterans’ mental health programme.

Shona Robison: No specific guidance has been issued. However, we recognise the importance of partnership working to improve employability and job opportunities for all those with a mental health problem, including veterans.

  We are currently funding NHS Health Scotland to deliver a range of mental health improvement initiatives across Scotland through the Scottish Centre for Healthy Working Lives. These programmes are designed to encourage employers to recognise the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing and the impact that it has on overall productivity, as well as promoting the benefits of a positive workplace culture by highlighting how good procedures and practices can both prevent staff developing mental ill-health and support those who may already be suffering from mental ill-health. More information can be found at http://www.healthyworkinglives.com/.

  The Employability Learning network is a cross government initiative supporting local employability partnerships and wider Community Planning partners to improve how employability is delivered throughout Scotland. A website http://www.employabilityinscotland.com/home.aspx has been developed as a practical guide for anyone involved in employability in Scotland.

  The Scottish Government, through the Scottish Mental Health and Employment Network, produced leaflets tailored for individuals, employers and health professionals on their roles and responsibilities as well as support available in helping people experiencing mental health illness who wanted to return to work. The information for employers is available at:

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/11/26160320/0.

NHS Hospitals

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many falls were recorded in (a) acute hospitals, (b) community hospitals and (c) mental health units in (i) 2008, (ii) 2009 and (iii) 2010.

Nicola Sturgeon: Information on the volume of incidents relating to patient falls in hospital is not collected centrally.

NHS Staff

Jackie Baillie (Dumbarton) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it plans to suspend pay increments for NHS staff.

Nicola Sturgeon: No.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives were recruited in NHS Orkney in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: There have been no newly qualified midwives employed by NHS Orkney since 2007:

  It is for NHS boards to determine their workforce requirements based on the clinical needs of the population and service developments in their area.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives were recruited in NHS Western Isles in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since 2007, one newly qualified midwife has been employed by NHS Western Isles.

NHS Staff

Rhoda Grant (Highlands and Islands) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many newly qualified midwives were recruited in NHS Shetland in (a) 2007, (b) 2008, (c) 2009 and (d) 2010 and how many have been recruited in 2011 to date.

Nicola Sturgeon: Since 2007, NHS Shetland has employed one newly qualified midwife and that was in 2008.

National Health Service

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the (a) costs and (b) annual savings would be if all NHS boards raised the percentage of diabetics receiving insulin pumps to 5%.

Nicola Sturgeon: This information requested is not available centrally.

  A cost template report, developed by NHS Quality Improvement Scotland, has been made available as a companion document to Scottish Intercollegiate Guidelines Network (SIGN) Guideline 116 on the management of diabetes. The template provides estimates of the costs and resources required to provide insulin pump therapy, including the associated structured education, as well as estimates of the costs and associated resources required to provide insulin by multiple daily injection.

  The template is available at http://www.sign.ac.uk/guidelines/fulltext/116/index.html.

Pharmacies

Tavish Scott (Shetland) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what legal advice it provided to NHS Shetland regarding the handling of the two applications to open community pharmacies in Scalloway and when the advice was provided.

Shona Robison: None. It is not for the Scottish Government to provide legal advice. Should NHS Shetland ever require legal advice on any matters, it should seek that advice from its own solicitors.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children in severe poverty have benefited from the freezing of council tax.

Alex Neil: There is currently no officially recognised measure of severe poverty in Scotland and therefore I am unable to give a definitive answer.

  Analysis shows that, on average, people in the lowest income deciles benefit the most from the council tax freeze as a proportion of their net income.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children living in severe poverty are in families that have received free heating help.

Alex Neil: There is currently no officially recognised measure of severe poverty in Scotland and therefore I am unable to give a definitive answer.

  The Energy Assistance Package offers low income families living in an energy inefficient household measures to improve the energy efficiency of the house and therefore reduce bills. For the period 1 April 2010 to 31 January 2011; over 4,000 families have been referred to Scottish Gas for heating measures (complete heating systems and boilers) for which the average estimated annual saving per household is £669.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children living in severe poverty have benefited from the abolition of prescription charges.

Alex Neil: There is currently no officially recognised measure of severe poverty in Scotland and therefore I am unable to give a definitive answer.

  Prescription charges will be abolished on 1 April this year, subject to the will of the Scottish Parliament. Whilst children are themselves already exempt from paying prescription charges, we estimate that around 600,000 adults living in families with an annual income of less than £16,000 will benefit from the abolition of prescription charges when they collect prescription medication.

Poverty

Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children living in severe poverty have benefited from the extension of free school meals.

Alex Neil: There is currently no officially recognised measure of severe poverty in Scotland and therefore I cannot provide a definitive answer.

  Uptake of free school lunches by virtue of the tax credit system is formally monitored through the annual School Meals in Scotland Survey. Results from the last one were published on the Scottish Government website on 29 June 2010.

  http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2010/07/06095048/0.

Public Transport

Bob Doris (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to recent questions on the subject, whether it is now in a position to make an announcement on Strathclyde Partnership for Transport’s funding proposals for the modernisation of the Glasgow subway.

Keith Brown: The Scottish Government reaffirms its long-term commitment to helping make the subway modernisation happen, through a substantial overall capital contribution, helping SPT to raise funds from other sources. We are assured that SPT’s enhanced modernisation case, including changes to working practices, is viable and will, therefore, help provide capital support which includes delivery of a smartcard ticketing system linked to wider integrated ticketing; new rolling stock and signalling with automation, and refurbished stations with improved accessibility including escalator replacement.

Rail Services

John Wilson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S3W-39416 by Keith Brown on 23 February 2011, whether the indicative timetable for the delivery of the new class 380 trains remains confidential and, if so, for what reason.

Keith Brown: The timetable for the delivery of the new class 380 trains is not confidential. ScotRail anticipates delivery of the full fleet of class 380 trains by June 2011.

Regeneration

Alex Johnstone (North East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive how much of the Town Centre Regeneration Fund (TCRF) was unspent, broken down by local authority.

Alex Neil: Of their respective total TCRF awards from the Scottish Government, Aberdeenshire Council did not draw down £88,342 and Angus Council did not draw down £812,620.

  The following table shows a breakdown by local authority area of the amount of TCRF committed but not yet spent at the last formal report in November 2010:

  

Local Authority Area
TCRF Project Title
TCRF Committed but not Spent


Aberdeen City Council
Retail Rocks! Aberdeen
£562,155.00


Aberdeenshire Council
Eyesores Remedy Project – Fraserburgh
£60,199.00


 
Laurencekirk Railway Station Environs Development
£125,417.00


Comhairle Nan Eilean Siar
Stornoway Town Centre Regeneration Project
£45,000.00


Dundee City Council
The Lochee Project
£120,689.00


East Ayrshire Council
Cumnock:Creating Civic Space
£97,000.00


 
Kilmarnock – Connecting Places
£590,660.27


East Dunbartonshire Council
Kirkintilloch Town Centre Regeneration
£110,077.00


East Lothian Council
Prestonpans and Tranent Town Centres Support Project
£69,495.00


East Renfrewshire Council
Better Barrhead: Town Centre Regeneration
£161,000.00


Edinburgh City
Creating a new heart (town centre) for Craigmillar
£776,101.00


Falkirk Council
Falkirk Town Centres: Regeneration
£636,786.00


Fife Council
Kirkcaldy – bringing new life
£1,247,500.00


Glasgow City Council
Maryhill Burgh Halls
£1,800,000.00


Highland Council
Accessible and Attractive Dingwall
£24,627.00


 
Nairn High Street Streetscape Project
£2,446.00


Inverclyde Council
Greenock town centre
£72,113.00


 
Port Glasgow Town Centre
£424,800.00


 
Gourock Town Centre Regeneration
£9,870.00


Midlothian Council
Dalkeith
£774,472.06


North Ayrshire Council
Millport Town Centre Regeneration – Business, Arts and Culture
£99,575.91


 
Saltcoats Key Building Regeneration Scheme
£7,372.00


North Lanarkshire Council
Revitalising North Lanarkshire’s Town Centres
£991, 824.00


Orkney Islands Council
The Stromness Town Centre Linkages Project
£378,222.09


Perth and Kinross Council
Ericht Project
£1,060,600.00


 
The Birks Cinema 
£46,210.38


Shetland Island Council
Lerwick Old Town Centre Regeneration
£199,927.86


Stirling Council
Non Food Retail Park
£761,081.00


 
Dunblane High Street Gap Site
£493,173.00


West Dunbartonshire Council
Clydebank 
£359,375.00


 
Dumbarton
£335,000.00


West Lothian Council
West Lothian Towns Regeneration
£479,791.00 


Total 
 
£12,922,559.57 



  In addition, West Lothian Council has recently been given permission to re-allocate £40,000 of its Bathgate TCRF award towards technical CCTV infrastructure, following the recommendations of a feasibility study which ruled out the sustainability of a wi-fi system in the town centre. Moray Council has been given permission to re-allocate £60,000 underspend towards public realm improvements. And Glasgow City Council has been given permission to re-allocate £30,000 of underspend towards cleaning the fascia of Govan underground station.

  We are carrying out an update exercise over the course of this month and will continue to monitor project progress until all the remaining committed TCRF monies are spent.

Renewable Energy

Mary Mulligan (Linlithgow) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how much funding it has designated for the National Renewables Infrastructure Fund in 2011-12.

Jim Mather: Scottish Enterprise has created the £70 million National Renewables Infrastructure Fund to support the development of offshore renewable energy manufacturing facilities over the next four years. Specific expenditure on an annual basis will depend upon proposals received, timing of funding requirement and factors including the level of market interest associated with each site.

Renewable Energy

Shirley-Anne Somerville (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how much it and its agencies invested in the renewables and community renewables industry between (a) 2003 and 2007 and (b) 2007 and 2011.

Jim Mather: The following table shows Scottish Government expenditure on renewable energy by year. It does not include investment in renewable energy by the enterprise agencies.

  Scottish Government Expenditure on Renewable Energy

  

Year
 


2002-3
£230,319


2003-4
£2,669,069


2004-5
£3,871,157


2005-6
£3,950,828


2006-7
£8,653,021


2007-8
£16,017,256


2008-9
£15,157,616


2009-10
£24,560,404


2010-11 
(forecast to end of financial year)
£30,296,501

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress has been made in relation to the M77 hard shoulder bus lane project.

Keith Brown: The technical feasibility study, which was the first stage of the project, has been completed. The project will progress to detailed design when funding becomes available.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the projected cost is for the M77 hard shoulder bus lane project.

Keith Brown: The total cost of the scheme is estimated at approximately £6 million. This figure includes the cost of the technical feasibility study, estimated costs for completing detailed design and estimated costs of scheme construction.

Roads

Cathy Jamieson (Carrick, Cumnock and Doon Valley) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent discussions it has had with bus operators regarding the M77 hard shoulder bus lane project.

Keith Brown: Scottish Government and Transport Scotland officials have been in regular discussion with stakeholders throughout the project.

Rural Affairs

Alasdair Allan (Western Isles) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how it plans to take forward the findings of the Speak Up for Rural Scotland consultation.

Richard Lochhead: On 9 March 2011, I will be launching Our Rural Future  – the Scottish Government’s response to the "Speak Up for Rural Scotland" consultation. Our Rural Future draws on the outcome of the consultation and identifies the key policy areas for rural Scotland. Our Rural Future responds to the consultation by setting future policy directions to enable rural Scotland to maximise its contribution to sustainable economic growth.

  A copy of Our Rural Future is available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 52511).

Sport

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps it has taken to increase awareness of the protection benefits of helmets for skiers and snowboarders.

Shona Robison: It is the role of the governing body, in this instance, Snowsport Scotland, to ensure that skiers and snowboarders are aware of the protection benefits of helmets when participating in their sport. The International Ski Federation strongly recommends the use of helmets for recreational skiing, and Snowsports Scotland supports this advice. Helmets are already compulsory in competitions.

  Further information can be found on Snowsport Scotland’s website at: http://www.snowsportscotland.org/disciplines/show/1.

Sport

Dr Richard Simpson (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive  how many head injuries as a result of skiing or snowboarding accidents were reported in 2009-10.

Shona Robison: Information on the volume of head injuries relating to skiing or snowboarding accidents is not collected centrally.